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Neil Warnock loves a grumble, but any observer of this woeful Premier League meeting will sympathise with his current troubles in the transfer market.

The 11 that started for Cardiff in a bargain basement display were assembled for a grand total of £9.5million and, boy, did it show.

Cardiff failed to hit a shot on target for 90 minutes and can count themselves lucky to escape with a point against a rock-bottom Huddersfield, who were denied a penalty in the most drawn-out of circumstances.

Lee Mason, the official, staged a dramatic U-turn 12 minutes from time, having initially pointed to the spot after Florent Hadergjonaj tumbled to the ground under pressure from Joe Bennett.

The change of mind came after a lengthy and agonising chat with linesman Stuart Burt. "We will probably receive another call from the FA where they will apologise for the decision," said Town's furious manager David Wagner, who claimed it had not been the first time his side had fallen victim to bad decision-making on a winless streak stretching back to November.

David Wagner and Neil Warnock discuss a game that will not live long in the memoryCredit:
Getty Images

Warnock, however, insisted "justice had been done", claiming his side had missed out on a spot-kick after a clumsy challenge on Junior Hoilett. "It's a good job we had an experienced linesman there," he added. "I thought Hoilett's chance was ten times worse."

Cardiff are now pursuing a deal for Nantes striker Emiliano Sala amid desperate efforts to add a goalscoring threat in the January transfer window. "It stuck out like a sore thumb that we needed someone," Warnock said.

On an afternoon woefully short on quality, the stats were no more flattering for Huddersfield, who remain eight points adrift of their Welsh relegation rivals and with the odds stacked against them.

A lack of swagger was apparent from just the second minute as a lofted free-kick from the right dropped invitingly for Steve Mounie, but the lone frontman took a stab at thin air as Cardiff's defenders eventually swept the ball clear.

The home side, having led for just 93 minutes in Premier League matches all season, were equally twitchy and took ten minutes to get inside Huddersfield's final third, but neither Callum Paterson nor Harry Arter could find the target

The game was brought temporarily to life on 15 minutes when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing burst down the right and fired a teasing ball towards the onrushing Hoilett. The attacker appeared to be tripped, but Mason ignore penalty appeals.

Huddersfield thought they had won a penalty late in the game only for referee Lee Mason to reverse his decisionCredit:
Reuters

Huddersfield were marginally more promising in possession as the game progressed, but enjoyed no real clear cut chances thanks to some blood and thunder challenges from Cardiff.

Erik Durm was denied what would have been a gilt-edged chance thanks to a superb saving tackle by Mendez-Laing.

Unfortunately for both sides, the game declined further in quality and ambition in the second-half. Cardiff have become late show specialists, but neither Paterson and substitute Rhys Healey were able to fire shots on target after the Bluebirds survived their penalty scare.